Floor-cleaning machine



June 16, 1925. Y' 1,542,262

- J. B. MORTON, JR

FLOOR CLEANING MACHINE Filed Sept, 28-. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 16, 1925'. 1,542,262

J. B. MoR'roN, .1R`

FLOOR CLEANING MACHINE yFiled sept# 28. 1922 4 sheets-sheet s ffm y yJune 16, 1925.

J. B. MoRToN, JR

FLooR CLEANING ummm:

Filed, sept. 2a,

1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4v y Patented' J une 16, 19:25.

JOHN B. NORTON, JR., F CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

FLOOR-CLEANIN G MACHINE.

Application iled September 28, 1922. Serial No. 591,081.

To all ywhom z'tfmay concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. MoR'roN, Jr., a. citizen ofthe United States,fresiding at Charleston` in the county of Kanawha and State Aol' lVest Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Floor-Cleaning Machines, of which the following is a speciiication.

The general object of my said invention. is the provision of a floor cleaning lnachine that is easy of operation, is efficient in practice, and is possessed of a wide range of utility. f

rlo the attainment of the foregoing, the invention consists in the improvement as hereinafter described and definitely claimed. In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification tion that I have Figure 1 is a side elevation of the best practical embodiment of my present invenas yet devise Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figui-c 3 is a longitudinal, vertical-central section of the machine.

Figure 4 is atransverse section taken in the plane indicated by the line 4-401 Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal;vertical section showing the machine equipped for use as a vacuum cleaner.

Figure 6 is an elevation taken at right angles to Figure 5 and showing the major portion of the vacuum cleaner equipment.

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are views of details hereinafter explicitly referred to.

Similar numerals of reference designate 4 the drawings..

Included *in the machine is a casing body 1 .with side shaft. projections 2 for the. pivotal yconnection ot' the bail portion 3 of a handle 4 through which the machine can be conveni-iently moved over the surface to be cleaned.

.tllhe said casing body 1 Vis supported by wheels and containsin its lower rear por-v tiona water tank 6, Figures 3, 4 and 5. In the upper portion of the rear Wall of the (tank 6 is an opening/above and partially about which is a cylindrical wall 7, carried ,hyjand extending forwardly from the said rear lwall. 4 :casing body 1 is preferably shaped as illustrated, and is open at its underside, Figures The forward portion 8 of the 3. and 5. Between the top wall 9 o the tank 6 and the top wall of the casing body 1 which is centrally is a compartment 10, Figures 3 and 5, and permanently arranged in the said compartment 10 is an electric motor 11 with a spur gear 12, and a band pulley 13 on its armature shaft 14. Also located in the compartment 10 hut at the 'opposite side, with reference tothe band pulle 13, is a train of gearmg 15; Figures-3 a`n 4, in connection with the spur gear 12. The motor 11 is designed to be electrically connected with an appropriate source of electric energy by wires 16, Figure 1, the handle 4 being preferably equipped with a switch (not shown) under the control of the operator of the machine after the manner disclosed in my contemporary application filed July 12, 1921, Serial No. 484,044.

In the upper forward portion of the tank 6 is a transverse trough 17, Figures 3-5, designed to contain water, and overhanging the forward portion of the said trough is a chute 18 connected to the front wall 19 of the tank G and arranged under and extending in rear of the opening 20 in the upper forward corner of the tank 6. Y

Arranged in the forward portion 8 of the casing body 1 is a frame that includes Figln'e 3, in the member 21. corresponding parts in all of the vlews of Carried in the lower l ortion of the frame and rear rollers 24 in the centers of which are circumferential grooves 25, Figures 3 and 7. i

In the top wall of the casing body 1 are openings 26, one of which is shown in Figure 10. The said openings 26 receive the threaded Shanks 27 of slotted hangers 28, the said hangers serving to receive the journals 29 of .an upper transverse roller 30 grooved correspondingly` to the lower rollers 24. Said roller 30 is equipped at one end with a spur gear 31 in connection with the before mentioned train of gears 15, and is also equipped at its ends with spur gears 32, These latter are intermeshed with corresponding gears '33 on the journals 34 of a lower expressing roller 35.

screws 22, Figure 1,

Said 'ournals 34 .are disposed in bearings 35 slidable in the hangers 28 and pressed upwardly b springs 36 so as to hold the roller 35 un er yiel ing pressure against an endless mopping cloth or belt 37, igures 1 3 and s. The said 010th or bea a7 is formed of appropriate moppin material, and is characterized b a longitudinal projection or rib 38 at its ack, Figures 1, 3 and 8, the said rib being disposed and movable in the circumferential grooves of the rollers 24 and 30, and being designed andadapted to preclude sidewise creepin or casual movement of the belt relative to t e several rollers.

On the Shanks 27 of the hangers 28 are removable wing nuts 39 which bear on the casing bod 1 and thereby support the hangers andl the parts 'carried thereby.

By com arison of Fi res 1, 2 and 3 it will be un erstood that t e front of the casing body portion 8 is formed by a wall 40, hinged at 41 to the portion 42 of the cover 40x of the casing body. At its lower end the wall 40 is provided with forwardly-deiccted side arms 43, and in the said side arms are journaled trunnions 44 at the ends of an open trough 45 on one end wall of which is an upstanding arm 46. Connected to and depending from the forwardedge of the trough 45 is a skirt 47 of flexible sheet rubber which is designed and adapted to cause water to flow cleanly immediatel in front of the forward roller 24, and whic i when pushed against a wall will bend backwardly and thereby enable the mop cloth or belt 37 to rub and scrub a iioor up to the wall.

The trough 45 is supplied with water from the tank 6 through the conduit or pipe shown in Figures 1 and 2. The said conduit or .pipe comprises a horizontal portion 50 arranged at the height of the water in the tank 6 when the said tank is full. It also comprises a portion 51 that extends inwardly and downwardly within the tank 6, and a valved portion 52 that'extends downwardly from the portion 50 and is arranged to discharge into the trough 45, Figure 1. The valve, designated by 53, may be of any construction compatible with the purpose of my invention. It will be readily understood that when the tank 6 is filled' with water above the level of the pipe portion 50, and the valve 53 is open, water will flow through the pipe into the trough 45, and this will continue due to siphonic action until the water in the tank 6 falls below the lower endof the pipe portion 52.

When the trough 45 is tilted to depress the forward edge thereof water will discharge from the said trough in a thin sheet. The trough discharge is also materially advantageous because there is no liability of its being impaired by Sediment in the water as is the case with a pipe having minute discharge apertures. For the manipulation ofI the trough 45 and the valve 53 through the medium of the hingedhandle 4 I provide ,themeans shown in Figures`1 and 2. The

said means comprises a rock shaft journaled in bearings 61 on the wall or member 40 and having cranks 62 and 63 a rod 64 connecting the crank 63 and the handle portion 3, a crank 65 on the stem of the valve 53 and connected by a rod 66 with the crank 62, and a rod 67 connecting the crank 65 and the arm 46 of the trough 45. When the handle 4 is slightly raised lfrom the position shown in Figure 1, the valve 53 will be cpened and-the trou h 45 will be tilted to epress the forwar edge thereof and bring about the discharge of water therefrom in the manner before described, and when the handle is returned to the position shown the val-ve 53 will be closed and the trough 45 will be restored to the position shown in Figure 1. Obviously when the operator tilts the cleaner so as to lift the mop cloth or belt from the floor, water collected in the trough 45 will be discharged from the rear edge of the trough to the forward stretch of the mop cloth or belt and will be carried by the mop cloth or belt up to the wringing or pressing means which will bring about the return of such water to the tank 6. It will be noted by reference to Figure 3 that water expressed from the mop cloth or belt by the rollers 30 and 35 will pass over the chute 18 to the trough 17. Dirt will sink to the bottom of the said trough while water will flow over the rear edge of'the trough and return to the tank 6. Manifestly there is nothing about the trough 17 that is liable to become clogged, and when necessary dirt and other sediment collected in the trough 17 may be readily removed therefrom. It will also be understood that water may be supplied to the tank 6 through the large opening in the rear wall thereof, and when desired water may be poured from the tank through the said opening.

By reference to Figures 1 and 2, it will be observed that the forward portions of the casing body and the wall or member 40 are reduced in width as designated by 70, i. e., are of a less width than the mop cloth or belt 37. In virtue of this provision one edge portion of the mop cloth or belt will act against the portion of a floor where the floor and wall join when the cleaner is moved along in slight angular relation closely adjacent said wall.

As best shown in Fi ure4 my novel cleaner isequipped in addition to the usual side wheels 5 with a lon 'tudinal center wheel 5". This provision a apts the cleaner to -be used with facility inthe mopping of steps, the casing body 1 being moved inthe direction of the length of they step being cleaned at which time the cleaner will be cylindrical wall 7.

supported by one of the side wheels 5 and the central wheel 5", the other side wheel 5 being beyond the step and idle.

`When the tank or .reservoirf is supplied with fioor oil my novel apparatus may'be used to advantage to oil a fioor, and when the cleaner' yis used in a dry state'the cloth or belt 37 will serve to expeditiously and thoroughly polish a wax floor.

The frame members 2l and the hangersl 28 together with the elementsk carriedl b said frame members and hangers 'are pre erably removable from the forward portion of the casing body to give place lto the vacuunrcleaning equipment shown in Figures 5 and 6. The said equipment comprises a fan casing 80, a rotary fan 81 therein, `a discharge nozzle 82 on the fan casing and adapted to rest on the chute 18, Figure 5, and a trunk 83 having an open lower end 84 and also having arms 85 communicating with the casing 8O at the ends thereof. The arms 85 are provided at`86 with closure members bearing gaskets 86 and adapted to rest on the chute 18 and eiiectively close the portions of the before described opening 20 at opposite sides of the spout 82. fan 81`is fixed on a shaft 87 and also fixed on the shaft 87 is a pulley '88, designed to be connected by a belt 89 with the before mentioned pulley 13 on the armature shaft of the motor 11. It will also be noticed that the trunk 83 is provided at 90 with lugs to which are side plates 91 having threaded apertures 92 to receive screws 22 by which the vacuum cleaning means can be detachably secured in the forward portion of the casing bodi-7 1.

i lVhen the vacuum cleaning attachment is employed in the relation shown in the casing` body l, it will be apparent that the fan 81 can be rotated at a high rate of speed to assure dirt and dust being drawn from a carpet or fioor rug and discharged into the tank 6. I would also have it understood that when the vacuum cleaner attachment is used in the casing body 1, I employ in the cylindrical -wall 7 of the large opening in the rear end of the casing body 1 means to permit the escape'of air from the tank 6 while trapping dust and dirt in the tank. The said air-straining means designated by 93 in Figure 9, is removable and may be of any appropriate construction without involving departure from the scope of my claimed in-l vention. I prefer, however, to have the said means 93 comprise three thicknesses of.

finely woven textile 94 and three rims 95 relatively arranged as shown and adapted to maintain thestraining diaphragms 94 in spaced relation in the cylindrical'wall 7. When the apparatus is to be used for monping and analogous purposes the straining means will of course be removed from the The I have -entered into' a detailedodescription of the construction and relative arrangement of the parts embraced in the present and preferred embodiment of my invention in order to impart a full, clear and exact understanding of thesaid embodiment. I do not desire, however, to be understood as con- Lfining myself to the specific construction vand relatlve arrangement of arts inasmuch by the carrying means, means to drive said cloth or belt, means to supply water from the tank to a surface to be cleaned, side wheels supporting the carrying means, and an auxiliary wheel supporting the carrying means and arranged intermediate the side wheels.

2. In a ioor cleaner of portable type, the combination of carrying means, mopping means carried by the carrying means, a tank also carried by the carrying means, a trough carried by the carrying means, and means for conducting fluid from the tank to said trough, said trough adapted .to discharge water in a sheet from one of its edges and said trough being tiltable, and means under the control of the operator for tilting thev trough.

3. In afloor cleanerof portable type, the combination of carrying means, mopping means carried by the carrying means, a tank also carried by the carrying means, a trough carried by the carrying means, and means for conducting fluid from the tank to said trough, said trough adapted to discharge water in a sheet from one of its edges, and saidtroiwh being tiltable, and said conducting means being equipped with a valve, in combination with means to enable an operator `to synchronously tilt the trough andopen the valve.`

4. In a floor cleaner 'of portable type, the combination of carrying means, mopping meanscarried by the carrying means, a tank also carried by the carrying means, a. trough carried by the carrying means, and means for conductingluid from the tank to said trough, said trough adapted to discharge Water in a sheet from one of its edges, the said trough being tiltable, in combination with a handle movable relative tothe carrying means, and a connection between said movable handle and the trough'to tilt the latter by movement of the former.

5. In a oor cleaner of portable type, Athe combination of carrying means, mopping il i) means carried by the carrying means, a tank also carried by the carrying means, a trough carried by the carrying means, and means for conducting fluid from -tlie tankl to said trough, said trough adapted to discharge water in a sheet from one of its edges, said trough being tiltable, and said conducting means being equipped with a valve, in combination with a handle movable relative to the carrying means, and connections between the handle and the trough and valve whereby movement 'ofthe valve and trough will attend movement ofthe handle.

G. In a Hoor cleaner, carrying means in the frame of a casing body having a tank in its rear portion and also having aforward portion open at its bottom, wheels supporting said carrying means, rollers mounted in the forward portion of the carrying means or casing body, a mopping cloth or belt passed around said rollers, means to drive the mopping cloth or belt, means to express water from' the cloth or belt, a trough in the upper portion of the tank, a chute arranged to receive water expressed from the cloth `or belt and convey the same to said trough,a front wall partially closing the front side of the forward portion of the casing body, a trough carried by said wall, and means to conduct liquid from the tank to said trough.

7. In a ioor cleaner, carrying means in the frame of a casing body having a tank in its rear portion and also havin a forward portion open at its bottom, ,W eels supporting said carrying means, rollers mounted in the forward portion of the carrying means or casing body, a mopping cloth or belt passed around said rollers, means to drive the mopping cloth or belt, .means to express water from the cloth -or belt, a trough in the upper portion of the tank, a chute arranged to receive water expressed from the cloth or belt and convey the same to said trough, a front, wall partially closing the front sideof the. forward portion of the casing body, a trough carried by said wall, and means to conduct liquid from the tank to said trough; the said means being siphonic and being provided with a valve.

8. In a iloor cleaner, carrying means in the frame of a casingbodyl, having a tank in its rear portion and also aving a forward portion open at lits bottom,wheels supporting said carrying means, rollers mounted in the forward portion of the carrying means or casing body, a mopping cloth or belt passed around said rollers, means to drive the mopping cloth or belt, means to express water from the cloth or belt, atrough in the upper portion of the tank, a chute arranged to receive water expressed from the cloth or belt and convey the same to said trough, a front having aforward portion open atits underside, a mopping cloth or belt in the forward portion of the casing bod Wheels supporting said body, a front wa l partially closing the forward side of the casing body and having forwardly deiected arms, a tiltable trough mounted in said arms and having an upstanding projection, a conduit between he tank and said trough to supply the atter, a valve in said conduit, a handle movable relative to the casing body, and means connecting the trough and the valve with the said handle whereby movement of the trough and valve will attend movement of the handle.

10. In a ioor cleaner, the combination of carrying means, aA tank carried by said means, a mopping cloth or belt also carried by the carrying means, a troughvcarried by the carrying means, means to conduct fiuid from the tank to the trough, means to drive the cloth or belt, and a skirt of flexible sheet rubber connected to and depending from the forward edge of the trough.

11. A Hoor cleaning machine including a casing having a receptacle in the rear end thereof, said receptacle having' a dirt receivingopening in the top portion, a dirt receiving trough mounted in the receptacle below said dirt receivin opening, cleaning means adapted for positioning within the forward portion of the casing and removably secured therein, said cleaning means having means cooperating with 'the receptacle and positioned over the dirt receiving opening for discharging the dirt picked up 'thereby through Vsaid opening and into the dirt trough, and means carried by said casing and adapted for connection with the cleaning means mounted therein lfor transin means. Y

n testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

' JOHN B. MORTON, JR.

mittng powerhereto to operate said clean.`

ioo 

